Define the Jacobian J[u] of a smooth mapping u:R3→R3. Show that if V is the vector field with components
Vi=3!1ϵijkϵabc∂xj∂ua∂xk∂ubuc
then J[u]=∇⋅V. If v is another such mapping, state the chain rule formula for the derivative of the composition w(x)=u(v(x)), and hence give J[w] in terms of J[u] and J[v].
Let F:R3→R3 be a smooth vector field. Let there be given, for each t∈R, a smooth mapping ut:R3→R3 such that ut(x)=x+tF(x)+o(t) as t→0. Show that
J[ut]=1+tQ(x)+o(t)
for some Q(x), and express Q in terms of F. Assuming now that ut+s(x)=ut(us(x)), deduce that if ∇⋅F=0 then J[ut]=1 for all t∈R. What geometric property of the mapping x↦ut(x) does this correspond to?